Chefs A' Field: Kids on the Farm

Walnut Shaking: Chef Michael Mina & Sons-Sacrament

Michael Mina Restaurants - San Francisco, CA; Carriere Farms - Sacramento, CA Michael Mina is considered by many to be one of the world's best chefs. In this episode, Chef Mina and his two sons, Sammy, age 8, and Anthony, age 4, head to the Sacramento Valley, where the walnut trees are in season and ready for the picking. But picking isn't exactly how they harvest a tree exploding with nuts. Instead, the boys climb into a real-life Tonka# truck from which they literally shake the trees-using long pinchers attached to mechanical arms. The earth rumbles and a fireworks display of walnuts comes raining down, to the delight of the excited children below. Fourth-generation farmer Bill Carriere and his three children lead the way as the Minas follow along, eating, tasting and learning about the walnut. Recipes: Brown Sugar-Walnut Ice Cream; Blue Cheese & Walnut Souffles; Watercress & Walnut Salad; Walnut & Seasonal Fruit Tart Tan Tins.